Feasibility Study: Ductless Hydronic Distribution Systems with Fan Coil Delivery

Technical Report · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1048988· OSTI ID:1048988

Springer, D. ^[1]; Dakin, B. ^[1]; Backman, C. ^[1]

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1. Alliance for Residential Building Innovation (ARBI), Davis, CA (United States)

Hydronic distribution systems have a long history, and are widely used in commercial buildings. As with mini-split heat pumps, hydronic systems using small terminal fan coils have the potential to provide high-quality comfort to homes that have small heating and cooling loads, but at a lower cost and with greater flexibility. These “ductless hydronic” distribution systems eliminate space requirements needed for ducting, eliminate duct thermal losses, and are easy to zone. Since heat pump chiller-heaters can be charged with refrigerant at the factory, hydronic systems also avoid refrigerant system faults such as incorrect charge and inadequate evacuation of lines that can lead to sub-standard performance. Other advantages include: reduction in the amount of energy required to deliver heating and cooling, reduced equipment cycling, and the potential for incorporating energy storage for peak load avoidance and demand response. Ductless hydronic systems are best suited for new homes, but with the relative ease of installing piping in attic spaces (for example under attic insulation), they are also suitable for existing homes that have old, leaky, and poorly insulated ducts. With a broader and more affordable product offering from manufacturers, installation guidelines, and contractor training, this method of distribution has significant potential to meet the space conditioning needs of high performance homes. The primary objectives of this study are to estimate potential energy savings relative to conventional ducted air distribution, and to identify equipment requirements, costs, and barriers. The analysis focuses on ductless hydronic delivery systems that use water-to-air terminal units in each zone. This system type is applicable in all climate regions and can provide sensible and latent cooling and/or heating using a single hot and chilled water source such as a heat pump, or a separate water heater and chiller. Results of TRNSYS modeling indicate that annual heating and cooling energy use (site and source) can be reduced by up to 22% when substituting pipes, pump, small distributed fan coils, and a water-to-air heat pump for the ducts, air handler, indoor coil, and conventional air-to-air heat pump unit of similar rating as the air-to-water unit. Of the 22% savings, on average 36% is attributable to the lower energy required by pumps and small fans vs. air handler blowers, and 64% to the reduced losses from pipes as compared to ducts. Using the modeled energy savings and estimated costs, hydronic distribution appears to be economically viable in three of the four climates evaluated. Other current field studies of air-to-water heat pumps coupled to radiant floor systems are demonstrating heat pump performance that exceeds seasonal performance calculated using a standard heat pump performance map (German, 2011a, German, 2011b). Hydronic distribution systems can meet sensible and latent cooling needs in all climates. Major barriers to widespread application include the lack of low-cost, small, ceiling-mounted fan coils, and the limited availability and higher cost of air-to-water heat pumps. The latter could be overcome by the production of an add-on refrigerant-to-water conversion kit that could be used to adapt any heat pump to serve as a water chiller-heater. Development of accurate performance maps and additional data on field performance are areas that should be targeted by future research.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Alliance for Residential Building Innovation (ARBI), Davis, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1048988
• Report Number(s): NREL/SR--5500-55206; DOE/GO--102012-3629
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AIR
BLOWERS
DISTRIBUTION
HEAT PUMPS
HEATING
POTENTIAL ENERGY
air to water heat pumps
ductless hydronic distribution
efficient space cooling
efficient space heating
low load homes
terminal fan coil